Conduit connector for fluid pressure control



April 3,1945.

A. w. GARDES CONDUIT CONNECTOR FOR FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL Filed April 29, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ldZ I my

IN VEN TOR Patented Apr. 3, 1945 CONDUIT CONNECTOR FOR FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL Alfred W. Gardes,

Detroit, Mich., assignor to McCord Corporation, a corporation of Maine Application April 29, 1943, Serial No. 484,989 4 Claims. (01. 284- 17) This invention relates to conduit connectors for fluid pressure control mechanisms and has for its principal object the provision of a connector for the conduits of fluid pressure controls which will allow the conduits to be separated at desired points in the system without loss of fluid therefrom sothat the connection may be again made when desired and the system again placed in immediate condition for use with the adja cent connected portions of the conduit, filled with fluid and ready for operation.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application, Serial No. 451,592 filed July 20, e 1942, entitled Fluid pressure control. In that application there is disclosed a fluid pressure con- 1 trol mechanism by means of which movement of a main control maybe duplicated with fidelity and accuracy at a remote work station. Examples of use of such mechanism are the control units in paper making and textile machinery.-

where it is necessary that certain of the units be speeded up or slowed down to compensate for changing conditions. A furtheruse for such a mechanism is for the operation of a single unit from a distant control station such as, for example, the control and sighting mechanism for search lights, machine guns and anti-aircraft guns.

Particularly when units of the type above iden tified are used for remote control of mechanisms which must be transported frequently, it is very necessary that there be provided suitable means to disconnect the conduits carrying the fluid whenever desired, and in order that the mechanism be again available to be assembled for use in the shortest possible time, it is also necessary that when the unit is again assembled that the fluid in the conduits'be in the same conditionas when the unit was disassembled, namely, that none of the fluid should be lost by the separation of the conduit.

It is therefore an object to provide a conduit connection for a fluid pressure control adapted to provide quickly detachable connection in conduits leading from one unit Of a fluid pressure control mechanism to another so that if it is desired to change the location of either the control member or the operating member, the communicating lines may be closed to trap theentire body of fluid contained in either of the portions of the connecting lines and so that when the connecting lines are reconnected there will still remain the entire solid uninterrupted column or body of fluid between the two devices and nowhere will any air be admitted to the lines. a

The above and other objects of the present invention will appear more fully in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming apart hereof and wherein: a

Fig. 1 is a partially diagrammatic showing of a fluid pressure control system employing several conduit connectors in the fluid pressure lines thereof. This general diagrammatic view is similar to Fig. 7 of my co-pending application, Serial No. 451,592, previously mentioned herein.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail partly in section of one of the connectors, parts being shown in full lines in the position they, would occupy when the conduit is connected for operation and including a dotted line showing of the position of the parts when the connector has trapped fluid in the adjacent portions of the conduit preparatory to disconnecting.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the parts shown disconnected and the parts in position such as to retain the fluid trapped in the separate portions of the conduit.

Fig. 4 is a section througha modified form of conduitconnector with the parts shown secured together but with the closures trapping the fluid in the adjacent conduits in closed position ready to be disconnected.

Fig. 5 shows one of the parts of the conduit connector shown in Fig. 4 disconnected with a protective cap assembled thereto.

Fig; 6 shows the other portion of the connector in Fig. 4 in its disconnected position also with a protective cap assembled.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of a type of fluid pressure control unit on which the connectors of this invention might be used; Such a diagram is here used as v an illustration of the application of the connectors and is a reproduction of Fig. 7 of my co-' pending application, Serial'No. 451,592. In Fig. l

the reference character represents a control unit and the reference character 86 an operating unit. The control unit 85 consists of a single cylinder having pipe 87, 88 connected to the respective ends of the cylinder, the construction of the cylinder and piston being like that shown in Fig. 2 of my above identified co-pending application. The pipes 81 and 88 communicate respectively through fittings 45 of a storage reservoir A with the pipes til-a and 88-0. leading to the opposite ends of the cylinder in the opcrating unit 86. Any suitable means such as a pivoted lever 89 may be employed for actuating the piston of the control unit in which case the piston rod 28-a of the unit may be connected directly to the lever 89. Likewise any suitable means may be employed for connecting the piston rod of the operating unit to the member to be actuated as indicated by the reference characof the rod 90 because of the fluid connection of the two units through the conduits 81, 88 and 81-11 and .88a.

In Fig, 1', four connector units Vfare-s shown, and specific location in the conduits may, of course, be changed to suit conditions but by their use, as shown, it is the intention to provide for disconnection of the four conduits: Itwould also be possible if desired to put additional connectors in the system when conditions. so.require= Figs. 2 and 3 show construction o-foner f' e connectors V, which consists of two separate valve bodies 10, ll, each of which isprovided-"with a side boss 12 of similar construction a suitably;

threaded to receive a fluid carrying conduit or pipe of a system such as shown'in Fig. 1; The threaded opening of each boss 12 communicates directly with the interior valve chamber I3 of'its respective valve body. Each valve section and Ti iS-also provided with a threaded valve-stem boss '14 into which is screwed a valve. stem '15-having at the outer projection end thereofa valve handle or hand wheel 78, a suitable stufiing box Ti being'provided for each valve stem to prevent leakage of fluid. Screwed into the-end of each valve chamber 73 is-avalve seat18ihavingaxcentral frustro-conical. valve seating surface '19 against which is adapted to be seated a valve=plug 80 secured to the inner end of the respective. valve stem I5, the valve plug 80:beingaof frustro-conical shape. The valve bodies 10; TI are con.- structed' to. be detachably'secured together: by means of an ordinary pipe; union: construction and for this purpose the valverbodyfll i provided at its inner end with an annular flange 81 adapted tobe. engaged by'an inwardly'projecting lateral flange 82 of alcoupling'xor-unionnut 83, the interior of which is threadedto. engage with an exterior screw: thread 84 provided on the end. of the valve. body 70.. Union nutaBiL isxasisembled to the valvebody H by slipping .theunion nut 83.0ver the stem end of the valve-body before any conduit is .connectedthereto; that-this is pose sible, is evident by inspectionot therpositionof the union nut as showninFig; 3.:

The manner in which valve V. function is as follows: One of thevalvebodies 'lfl 'orllyas. the case may be, is connected by meansotiitsxthreads ed. boss ?2. with a. short connecting-:znipple or length of. pipe leading: to: one. of the cylinders, while one of the mainlengths of pipe=,. ase'forine stance,- the'pipe. 8'1, is-connected. to the boss J2;.of

theother valvechamber body'ilh Wherrthe syse tem is in operating condition, the valve stems-:

are Screwed up to. raisethevalve plugsfiil ofhtheir seats 19 and thereby toestabli'shiree communi= cation between the.respective..valve;-chambers 13 of the valve bodies. ill-.andxll, such acondition being shownby the. solidline; positions oi; the plugs 80 as shown in Fig. 2. When, however; itis desired to disconnect the operating; or control units by separating the; conduits at-any-or; all of the valves V, the valve plugs an are;brought. into sealing contact with their respectivezseating.sur: faces until the parts. arein the-conditionshown by the dotted lines in Fig, 2 and;; by;the. full1lines in Fig. 3. As thevalve seats 18- aresin .tightZSEaI-e ing engagement when two valve bodiesffll: andfll are in assembled condition, as; shown in'.Fig;.2; and. as the end fiat faces of the valveplugsfiflare substantially in contact when. the valverplugs -80 arebrought intosealingengagement. with their respective valve seatsflil, none .ofthe fiuid.which was inthe valve chamberss,13-or:whichis;contained ..in the respective: pipe. which c.ommuni-.

cated with said chambers 13 can find a path of escape at the joint between the two valve bodies (Brand 1 I, so. that when theunion or..coupling 83 isunscrewed. allof the fluid that lwasin the system is completely retained in the respective portions of the conduit which has been separated. The two parts of the unit in their disconnected condition are shown in Fig. 3. When the parts have been transferred or removed to a new location, or whenever desired, the respective valve bodiesflfl. and .1! may again be coupled together and the faces of valve seats 18 held together and subsequently the valve stems 15 screwed up to raisethevalve plugs from their respective seats and thereby again establish full communication to. the 'fluid pressurecolumn or lock-betweenthe respective units;

A modified'form of the connector isshown in Figsz-l; 5 and 6 of the drawings: As -shown'in Fig. 4this'connector employs valve bodies Inf,- 1 l with otherparts which correspond with. the parts shown-in Figs. 2 and 3 insofar-as: they 'have:=beerl numbered with reference characters;to which. a prime has been added; However; thezmajordii ference'. between the: two types is in theuse-of a bellows type of seal which has been indicatedby the. reference character IM. This bellowsl type of seal has :one: end thereof. connected'..with. a threadedainsert. I02 fitting.:into. the: top: of thevalve :body: and. the other: endzsecuredio thesvalve plug; 80!; Thenbellowstype seal. llli surrounds theivalve stem .1 5." and servesras 'aspositive seal .to prevent fluidiromdeaking; out. around. theestem. Theaendpf the valvestem; 15! ispreferablwser curedito thesvalve plug .80! by:=a-ba1l.and socket joint I03, thel-ball being .securemin'the socketrby peening oven-at:assemblyaxfiange IMiiormed on the..plug,-.80.,. as-shown; in Figs. 4-. The union. nut 83.: isv held in place Iowa-split ring; l05.which;contacts the fiangeBZ! ofithe nut'which may. be made ina. form. of. a separate. part: threaded into the union. nut 83 or. otherwisezsecured.thereto. The portions of the valve bodies adjacent the conical surfaces .19 contacting the:similarly shapedzconical faces of thezplug-Sfl areyiormed. integral with their. respective. I valve. bodies; and. the; surfaces makingcontactzadjacent the openings tofornr a seal. when the valve-bodies. are :securedtogether are: so,-:formed. that .there a recess-108: in .the valve body surfacaportion on H1.- contactedby an annular projection; I 091cm. the .valve .bodyfl l as. shown. The: contacting surfaces: are: ground and: the; respective relation. between. these :sur:-

faces and the .conicalsurfacesand faces oi...the valve-plugs- 80. is such lthatrasvery smallspace; approximately .010 in actual. practice-,' is left be.- tween the faces-ofp1ugs80f when. the valvesl are closedin .theposition showm in Fig.4. This'small clearance; is, to. assure that. the surfaces l 08: and H19. will. positively join, andiorrall practical-purposes the .010. space is negligible .asfar aszlossof fluid is. concerned. The limit in allowed: clearance would bethat which would. producenoticeable loss of fluid. V

The two: parts 10' and. 'H may: he. disoonnected. by. releasing the union. nut: 8?, and the parts. put in: the respective. conditions represented by-Eig. 5 and.Fig..6. After :the :parts are separated, provision is made .to protect .theaseparated ends by the. provisionof:. aacap; lllfirwhich screwsinto the union-nut'83 andhas suitable flanges, as shown: to adequately protect. the threads from' injury. Arcap lfl'I-is also. provided to.-fit on. the threads of. thecvalversbody; H, .as is shown in Fig. 6.

It is understood that the operation of the connector shown in Figs. 4, and 6 is substantially the same as that previously described in connection with the form of the unit shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Although I have described my invention as applied to a specific structure, it is understood that the various modifications are intended within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A conduit connector comprising, a pair of separable valve body portions formed to fit together and each enclosing a fluid receiving chamber and having an opening positioned to form a communicating passage between said chambers when said portions are fitted together, valve closures for each of said openings of said separable portions shaped to close said openings and having faces formed to fit closely adjacent each other when said closures are in closed poof said valve sition, a valve stem connected to each closures for moving it to and from closed position, an expandable bellows member surrounding each of said stems having one end thereof secured to the interior of its respective separable body portion and the opposite end secured to its respective valve closure.

2. A conduit connector comprising a pair of separable valve body portions, each enclosing a fluid receiving chamber and each having a substantially fiat wall portion at one end thereof having an opening therein which forms a communicating passage between said chambers when said portions are secured together, a frustroconical valve seat surrounding each of said openings, the said wall of one of said body portions being provided with an annular projection arranged in concentric relation with said opening and valve seat and the wall of the other body portion having a complementary recess in which said projection is adapted to fit, the exterior of the side wall of one of said body portions adjacent said end wall having a projecting screw threaded portion and the other of said body portions having secured thereto a union nut for engaging said screw threads to clamp said body portions together with the end wall portions thereof in tightly fitting contacting engagement, each of said body portions having the end thereof opposite said end wall interiorly screw threaded and having a closure cap screwed therein, each of said closure caps being provided with a threaded bore, a valve stem screwed within said threaded bore, a valve plug swivelly secured to the inner end of said valve seat and having a frustro-conical valve surface for engagement with the frustro-conical valve seat of the opposite end wall, and an expandable bellows member surrounding each of said valve stems, mounted within said chamber and having one end thereof secured to said valve plug and the other end to said valve closure.

3. A conduit connector comprising a pair of separable valve body portions, each enclosing a fluid receiving chamber and each having a substantially fiat wall portion at one end thereof having an opening therein which forms a communicating passage between said chambers when said portions are secured together, a frustroconical valve seat surrounding each of said open ings, the'said wall of one of said body portions being provided with an annular projection arranged in concentric relation with said opening and valve seat and the wall of the other body portion having a complementary recess in which said projection is adapted to fit, the exterior of the side wall of one of said body portions adjacent said end wall having a projecting screw threaded portion and the other of said body portions having secured thereto a union nut for engaging said screw threads to clamp said body portions together with the end wall portions thereof in tightly fitting contacting engagement, each of said body portions having the end thereof opposite said end wall interiorly screw threaded and having a closure cap screwed therein, eachof said closure caps being provided with a threaded bore, a valve stem screwed within said threaded bore, a valve plug swivelly secured to the inner end of said valve seat and having a frustro-conical valve surface for engagement with the frustro-conical valve seat of the opposite, end wall, and an expandable bellows member surrounding each of said valve stems, mounted within said chamber and having one end thereof secured to said valve plug and the other end to said valve closure, and a cup-shaped actuating handle secured to the outer end of each valve stem and adapted when said valve plug is in closed position to fit closely adjacent to and surround said closure cap.

4. A conduit connector comprising a pair of separable valve body portions, each enclosing a fluid receiving chamber and each having a substantially fiat wall portion at one end thereof having an opening therein which forms a communicating passage between said chambers when said portions are secured together, a frustroconical valve seat surrounding each of said openings, the said wall of one of said body portions being provided with an annular projection arranged in concentric relation with said opening and valve seat and the wall of the other body portion having a complementary recess in which said projection is adapted to fit, the exterior of the side wall of one of said body portions adjacent said'end wall having a projecting screw threaded portion and the other of said body portions having secured thereto a union nut for engaging said screw threads to clamp said body portions together with the end wall portions thereof in tightly fitting contacting engagement, each of said body portions having the end thereof opposite said end wall interiorly screw threaded and having a closure cap screwed therein, each of said closure caps being provided with a threaded bore, a valve stem screwed within said threaded bore, a valve plug swivelly secured to the inner end of said valve seat and having a frustro-conical valve surface for engagement with the frustro-conical valve seat of the opposite end wall, and an expandable bellows member surrounding each of said valve stems, mounted within said chamber and having one end thereof secured to said valve plug and the other end to said valve closure, and a pair of thread protecting caps, one adapted to be screwed into the threads of said union nut and the other over the cooperating threads of the other body portion to protect said threads from injury when said body portions are separated.

ALFRED W. GARDES. 

